I was once offered a place in the London marathon and for no other reason than it was something I had always wanted to do, I put my hand up and volunteered – after-all, there was a 76 year old woman running it so what excuse did I have?! A ruptured ligament for starters and an annual fitness ‘regime’ that could be listed on one hand – namely a week’s skiing and a couple of rounds of tennis … Added to which, I was really self-conscious and didn’t feel comfortable running in public and I was a good stone over the weight I should have been so didn’t fancy being seen out in lycra shorts and a running vest with everything on show.

But, having made the decision and having told so many people that I was going to do it, I knew I had to train and give it my best shot. So I bought the kit, put ear plugs in so I wouldn’t hear any negative comments on the street and put on sunglasses to make myself incognito and I took the first step outside my front door. The first time I left the house I literally made it to the end of the road and then back. After two weeks I could run 2 miles and within three months I had run 16 miles.

At 35, I completed my first and only marathon and I can honestly say that it changed my life.

By running 26 miles I not only changed my own opinion of myself but everyone else opinion of me too. Not only that, I changed my body shape for good and found a form of exercise that was not only cheap but which I could easily fit into my life. It also made me realised what I was capable of and so if I now encounter anything that scares me, I look for all reasons why I can do it rather than why not. I have run four half marathons since then and am signed up for another in March next year. I can’t say that I love running and you don’t have to have a goal as big as the marathon to aim for but I love what running has enabled me to achieve and it all started with one small step…

So, whether you want to lose a few pounds, build your body confidence, get your credit card bill under control or sort out a relationship that is causing you grief, what is the small step you can take today to make change happen?

Mini coaching session:

What would you like to change?

What would be your ideal outcome?

How much do you want the situation to change?

How will you feel if things stay as they are?

What is the first thing you will do?

If you recognise that the same things keep happening, how can you change what happens next time?

What could stop you?

How will you get around this?

When will you take the first step?

How will you feel when you achieve your ideal outcome?

Take one small step and you can achieve great things and the results will far exceed your original goal